I agree with your criticisms of Democratic leadership, with few exceptions, over the past few decades. What I struggle with is why citizens of different minority groups have allowed themselves to be siloed, isolating their struggles from that of other marginalized groups. Clearly we can see that the George Floyd protests spanned race, generation, and politics. A coalition ranging from BLM leaders to ADL groups has collectively impacted Facebook's bottom line through a coordinated advertising boycott. I understand that those currently in power benefit from division, but why don't citizens realize the power of alliances. The majority of the country supports equal justice, fair wages, reduced income inequality, greater opportunities for all minority groups, etc. Regardless of conservative rhetoric and appeasement by the left, why haven't we (as citizens) used our collective power to effect change? Perhaps this is a naive question, but it seems that we never quite understand the power of alliances across marginalized and minority communities
One element that is, I think, significant as we think about bigotry and its effects:
I tend to think it is fair to say that we -- as humans -- are generally lazy -- we'd prefer to get something for nothing, we'd prefer to have someone else do the work.
This is, of course, a fairly cynical view of human nature that 'Liberals' would generally prefer not to accept. But this fairly conservative view does yield an important insight: like the rest of us, bigots, too, are lazy. Absent significant motivation, they'd prefer sit on the couch and complain (about everyone else's laziness). And, disgusting and hypocritical as this 'Archie Bunker' bigotry may be, beyond earshot of the couch it is fundamentally harmless.
Which, then, raises the question: what is it that gets the bigots motivated? What has pulled them off the couch? The answer, I would submit, is cash and a sort of racio-political entrepreneurialism. And importantly, public policy and political warfare has a much easier time stifling these 'ventures' and outright cash payments than it does changing 'the character of men's souls.'
It is, I suppose, a restatement of the Marine's fundamental insight about political warfare and counterinsurgency: 'grab them by the ***s and their hearts and minds will follow.'
I agree with your criticisms of Democratic leadership, with few exceptions, over the past few decades. What I struggle with is why citizens of different minority groups have allowed themselves to be siloed, isolating their struggles from that of other marginalized groups. Clearly we can see that the George Floyd protests spanned race, generation, and politics. A coalition ranging from BLM leaders to ADL groups has collectively impacted Facebook's bottom line through a coordinated advertising boycott. I understand that those currently in power benefit from division, but why don't citizens realize the power of alliances. The majority of the country supports equal justice, fair wages, reduced income inequality, greater opportunities for all minority groups, etc. Regardless of conservative rhetoric and appeasement by the left, why haven't we (as citizens) used our collective power to effect change? Perhaps this is a naive question, but it seems that we never quite understand the power of alliances across marginalized and minority communities
One element that is, I think, significant as we think about bigotry and its effects:
I tend to think it is fair to say that we -- as humans -- are generally lazy -- we'd prefer to get something for nothing, we'd prefer to have someone else do the work.
This is, of course, a fairly cynical view of human nature that 'Liberals' would generally prefer not to accept. But this fairly conservative view does yield an important insight: like the rest of us, bigots, too, are lazy. Absent significant motivation, they'd prefer sit on the couch and complain (about everyone else's laziness). And, disgusting and hypocritical as this 'Archie Bunker' bigotry may be, beyond earshot of the couch it is fundamentally harmless.
Which, then, raises the question: what is it that gets the bigots motivated? What has pulled them off the couch? The answer, I would submit, is cash and a sort of racio-political entrepreneurialism. And importantly, public policy and political warfare has a much easier time stifling these 'ventures' and outright cash payments than it does changing 'the character of men's souls.'
It is, I suppose, a restatement of the Marine's fundamental insight about political warfare and counterinsurgency: 'grab them by the ***s and their hearts and minds will follow.'